A MISSING GIRL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2335, 30 October 1908, Page 5

A MISSING GIRL.

MASQUERADES AS A BOY

The Melbourne “Argus” tells the strange story of the disappearance of Adeline Maude Lyons, a Prahran girl, who is believed to be masquerading as a boy in clothes taken from a lodger’s room at Farrant’s boardinghouse in liussell-street.

The girl is nearly 10 years of age, about oft. Gin. in height, of slight build, fair complexion, with blue eyes, and brown hair (now cut short). iSlic Ins a scar across her nose. When she was last seen at Mr Jewell’s barber’s shop in Exhibition-street, where she had her hair trimmed, she was wearing a man’s grey tweed sac suit and tweed cap with flaps. According to the barber’s account of her demeanor in his sliop, the girl did not appear at all flurried over her escapade, but carried off the situation quite coolly. She had been employed at a dressmaker’s establishment at AVillia msroad, Prahran, and, so far as her family are aware, she had no reason to make off in such an extraordinary manner.

THE MOTHER’S STORY. The home from which Adeline Maud Lyons lias run away is a quite little house in a quiet little street in Prahran. Outside is a sign, announcing that milk is supplied —for Mr Joseph Lyons, the girl’s father, is a dairyman—and inside the rooms are rendered homelike by pictures and family photographs, in which Mrs Selina Lyons, the mother, takes a proud interest. One of these is a colored photograph of her missing daughter. The face is that of a quiet, contemplativelooking girl, with dark hair and eyes, and a sensitive mouth. On the sofa is the little white helmet which she wore when another photograph was taken.

In the course of an interview at her home, S 9 York-street, Airs Lyons, whose motherly face was troubled by the thought of her daughter’s disappearance, told all she knew of what had happened. Her little son. a chubby youngster of four, kissed his mother, and went obediently to bed before half the story was told. “I can’t understand it,” said Airs Lyons. “Adeline ran away before, but that was only to her grandmother’s place, at Kensington, and I brought her back.almost the next day. I told her that if she ever ran away again I’d put her away until she was 21. Perhaps she remembers that now, and is too frightened to come back. She is nearly 1G yeai-s old, and she has filled out so much lately that she looks almost a woman. I can't account for her running away—the laeighbors were* amazed when they heard of it.” She had a good home? “A real good home, and everything she required. I don't know what companions she has had ; but I can’t think how she could get to know any. She avas employed at a private dressmaking establishment in Williamsroacl, and there were only three others (here —all nice, quiet, lady-like girls. They h ad nothing to do with her running away, I’m certain.” “No; it’s quite on her own initiative,” said Air Lyons, the girl’s father.

“But it’s nonsense to talk like that,” Mrs Lyons replied. “It’s not on her own. A girl wouldn’t get into a man’s clothes unless someone gave her the idea. Everyone seems quite surprised at it.” “Well,” said Mr. Lyons, “she is a bright, clever sort of girl, and her brain is always trying to devise something new. No! we never allowed her out at night, although she had her nights t () herself.” “Perhaps,” continued his wife, “that may have had something to do with it. iShe used to talk about other girls being let out. Of course, she is stage-struck, in a way—there isn t the slightest doubt of it.” “Theatre mad!” interjected Mr Lyons. “Yes —sometimes we took her to the play,” Mrs Lyons went on, “and when we "came home she could carry it all out to the very T —everything! Her being stage-struck might easily give her the idea of changing her dress foj boy’s clothing. And yet I have walked the streets looking for her, and 1 cannot find her. She can’t have gone into the country—sho had no money. I can’t make it opt —and when she put on those clothes I believe she deliberately. put her hands in her pockets and walked down Bourke-stveet. She left here at 10 minutes to S on Thursday morning, but she never went to work. From what I can learn she went into the Eastern Market, and then to this lodging-house in Russell-street, where she changed he; clothes. Then she had her hair cut. and that’s all I know.” Was she a delicate girl ? “Yes; always. T have never beaten her. and she" could talk me over so easily. I have leant to her on account of her being delicate. She wis pm over by a vehicle once, and her throat was injured. That was three years ago, and since then she has boon in tlie Homoeopathic Hospital and the Melbourne Hospital. Perhaps the accident affected her brain in some way —she had a scar on top of her head. And yet she was so bright—and she. was a wonderful singer and mimic.' When she went away she had her little brother’s photograph with her. It was taken when he was a baby, and is mounted in a medallion. She was so fond of him that I’m sure she’d never lose it. Although she may be weiring a man’s clothing, she won’t he wearing men’s boots. She will still have her own tan boots on. I’m sure slio’s in town somewhere—and perhaps sue is afraid to come home because of what I said last time she ran away.”